WILSON 700: Studies in Leadership and Civic Engagement (Winter 2024)
“Leaders as Thinkers: What does good leadership look like?”
Dr. Catherine Frost (Political Science) and Dr. Violetta Igneski (Philosophy)
Ethical leadership and civic engagement begin with a deep reflection on one’s commitments and principles, their actions in relation to others, and their impact in the world.
This course critically examines commonplace ideas and expectations that shape what we think of as good leadership, such as reason, duty, and individual responsibility. It considers the role of autonomy and relationality in leadership and covers critical skills and virtues that enable people to work collectively to solve local and global problems in an ethical way.
It also addresses illusions of leadership that drive polarization, exclusion, distrust, and breakdowns in communication.
Course Objectives
The focus of the course is on the development of skills that support thoughtful and responsible leadership, rather than on the mastery of a particular set of theories. Course readings have been selected to prompt reflection on challenges facing leadership in the contemporary era and include classical and contemporary sources on ethical decision-making and social justice.
Assignments develop leadership capacities and skills of self-reflection, critical reasoning and efficacy, collaborative problem solving and effective communication.
The course culminates in a collaborative exercise that will builds on skills and insights developed throughout the term.
The course is organized into five themes, and two weeks will be spent on each theme.
For each theme, there will be one in-class activity or simulation and one meeting with a practitioner in the field.
I. Vice, Virtue and Character
II. Principle, Duty and the Good
III. Justice and Care
IV. Fear, Courage and the Ego
V. Agency, Solidarity and Empowerment
Click the Learn More button to read the full course outline.
For more information, or if you have questions, please email wilsoncollege@mcmaster.ca.